Device for preventing defeat of slide-operated mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A retractable blocking member is provided to prevent defeat or improper operation of a slide-operated timing mechanism in a coin-operated machine. The blocking member is normally biased into blocking relationship with a timer control shaft which must be depressed to initiate an operating cycle of the mechanism, and an arm extends from the blocking member toward the coin slide. Inward movement of the slide retracts the arm and blocking member from the blocking position, allowing the control shaft to be shifted axially inward to initiate a cycle function. When the timed cycle is completed, the control shaft returns to its original position and the biased blocking member again returns to its blocking position.

United States Patent 3,590,654

[72] Inventor Donald N. Butte [5 6] References Cited I N 5'32 Calil- UNITED STATES PATENTS [2|] App o. [22] Filed Jan. 21,1970 1.854.185 4/1932 Galland 194/9 T [45] Patented July 6, 1971 Primary ExaminerMilton Kaufman [73] Assignee McGraw-Edlson Company AttorneyWolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann Ripon, Wis.

[54] DEVICE FOR PREVENTING DEFEAT 0F SLIDE- 491; 194/9 T. DIG. 18

ABSTRACT: A retractable blocking member is provided to prevent defeat or improper operation of a slide-operated timing mechanism in a coin-operated machine. The blocking member is normally biased into blocking relationship with a timer control shaft which must be depressed to initiate an operating cycle of the mechanism, and an arm extends from the blocking member toward the coin slide. Inward movement of the slide retracts the arm and blocking member from the blocking position, allowing the control shaft to be shifted axially inward to initiate a cycle function. When the timed cycle is completed, the control shaft returns to its original position and the biased blocking member again returns to its blocking position.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING DEFEAT OF SLIDE- OPERATED MECHANISMS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to mechanically operated mechanisms for initiating a cycle function, and in its principal aspect concerns a device for preventing defeat or improper operation of coin-operated machines, such as automatic washing machines, by tipping, dropping or jolting the mechanism.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device for preventing defeat of coin-operated timing mechanisms. It is intended to provide a simple and inexpensive device which can be easily fitted to existing coin-operated mechanisms and which will prevent improper initiation of a timed cycle function without insertion of the required coins.

In particular, it is an object to provide a device of the above description which is resistant to rearward and downward jolts or impact aswell as tipping, and is effective to prevent the cycle function from being initiated by any means other than the movement of a coin slidein a desired manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective of an exemplary machine, such as a washing machine, having a coin-slide mechanism and cycle-timing means incorporating an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with a portion of the timer cover being broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side elevation of the structure of FIG. 1.

Although the invention is illustrated and described in con nection with an exemplary preferred embodiment, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment described but is, on the contrary, applicable to all coin-operated mechanisms in which a simple and effective means of preventing defeat or improper operation by jolting, tilting and dropping is desired.

Turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a cycle control mechanism for use with, for example, a coinoperated automatic washingmachine 11. Coins are placed in suitable receptacles 12 in a coin-slide mechanism 13 of conventional design. A coin slide 15 carries coins in the receptacles 12 into the interior of the mechanism, where a suitable means (not shown) determines that the correct coins are present in'the slide 15 and allows it to continue forward, depositing the coins into a collection box 16 within the mechanism. The last described movement initiates the function of the timed washing machine cycle.

The machine cycle is controlled by a timer 17 carried by a mounting plate 18 located within the control mechanism 10. The cycle function is initiated by inward axial movement of a forward'extending rotatable timer shaft 19 toward the rear of the machine, or toward the timer 17 in the exemplary embodimerit. The protruding end of the timer control shaft 19 is also provided with a clutch means including a clutch collar 20, and a sheet metal operating plate 21.

The cycle function is initiated when the timer shaft 19 is displaced axially inward towards the timer 17 to the position indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 2. The timer shaft rotates through 360 during each cycle and at the end of the cycle returns to its starting position as shown in solid lines. At this point the timer l7 automatically shuts itself off until the operating cycle is again initiated by inward displacement of the timer shaft 19.

In normal operation the movement of the coin slide 15 serves to displace the timer control shaft 19 and thereby incompression spring 25 is held captive between the supports 22 and resiliently urges the actuating pin 23 in the direction of slide movement toward the timer 17 by means of a washer 26 fixed to pin 23. Upon reaching the limit of its inward travel, the actuating pin 23 on the coin-slide plate 15 encounters the operating plate 21, which displaces the timer control shaft 19 inward to initiate the cycle. Further movement of the slide 15 causes the spring 26 in the lost-motion mechanism to compress, allowing the system to take up the additional slide movement without strain or damage.

It has been found that occasional customers of an unattended coin-operated laundry establishment will attempt to bypass and defeat the coin-operated cycle timer mechanisms and obtain a free cycle from washers, dryers and similar machines. This can be accomplished by tipping the machine forward and letting it fall backward to impact against the floor in a level position, or by allowing it to fall back against an adjacent wall or against another machine. The timer shaft 19 can therefore be suddenly jarred inward as the machine hits the wall or floor, occasionally to an extent whereby the cycle function is initiated.

As a principal feature of the invention, means are provided to positively block the inward movement of the timer control shaft 19 when it is not deliberately and properly actuated by the inward sliding movement of the coin slide 15 of the coinoperated mechanism 13. This is accomplished through a retractable blocking member 27 which in the exemplary embodiment consists of a simple unitary sheet metal part which is pivotably attached by a pivot means consisting of a shoulder screw 28- to the timer mounting plate 18. The blocking member 27 consists of a base portion 30 through which the pivot screw 28 is received, a blocking portion 31 which interferes with the clutch collar 20 to prevent inward movement of the timer shaft 19, and an angled arm 32 extending toward the coin-slide mechanism 13 for engagement with the coin slide 15 as the latter element moves inward to initiate the operating cycle according to the intended mode of machine operation. The underside of the arm 32 includes .a cam surface which is engaged by the advancing end of the coin slide 15.

Normally, the blocking member 27 is biased by gravity toward its blocking position to prevent inward movement of the timer control shaft 19. Alternatively, spring means or the like can be employed. In the present embodiment, gravity is most easily utilized because the exemplary coin-operated washing machine with which the device is used is relatively heavy and is not likely to be severely displaced or turned upside down by a user in an effort to defeat the coin-operated timer mechanism.

It may be seen that the device of the present invention prevents defeat or improper operation of the coin-operated timing mechanism because inward movement of the timer control shaft 19 is blocked at all times by the blocking member 27 except when the latter is raised intentionally through the full inward movement of the coin-slide plate 15 as an adjunct to insertion of coins into the coin-actuated mechanism in the proper manner. Only then is the blocking member 27 caused to rise so as toallow the clutch collar 20 of the timer control shaft 19 to move rearwardly toward the timer 18 to initiate the cycle function.

It will also be observed that the axis of rotation of the blocking member 27 about the shoulder screw 28 is parallel to that of the timer control shaft 19. An impact which might displace the control shaft 19 will therefore have little or no effect on the blocking member 27, thereby maintaining the protective advantages of the invention. Similarly, an impact which might displace the blocking member 27 will have little or no effect on the timer control shaft 19.

Desirably, a guide plate 33 is also provided on the timer frame 18 for guiding the movement of the slide plate 15. The guide plate 33 has a slot 35 having a wide V-shaped entrance to accept and guide the advancing end of the slide 15.

The following I claim as invention:

I. In a mechanism for initiating a timed cycle function, the mechanism including a frame, a cycle control mechanism, a control shaft carried by the frame for initiating a timer-controlled cycle function upon being axially displaced, a shiftable slide plate carried by the frame for initiating the cycle function, and means for axially resetting the control shaft at the end of the cycle function, a protection device comprising, in combination:

a collar carried by the control shaft,

a retractable blocking member carried by the frame and having a blocking portion for preventing inward displacement of the control shaft when said member is in a blocking position and not retracted,

the blocking member being normally in the blocking position, and

cam means carried by the blocking member engageable with the slide plate for retracting the blocking member from the blocking position to a removed position upon cycle-initiating movement of the slide plate.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said cam means includes an arm carried by the blocking member and extending toward the slide plate, said arm having a cam surface engageable with the advancing end of the slide plate for retracting the blocking member from the blocking position to a removed position.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim I in which the blocking member and cam means are incorporated in a unitary sheet metal member, said member having a base portion, a blocking portion for engaging the control shaft collar, an angled arm extending toward the advancing end of the slide plate for engagement therewith, and pivot means for pivotably fastening the base portion of said unitary sheet metal member to the frame.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the axis of rotation of said blocking member about said pivot means is parallel to the axis of control shaft displacement when initiating the cycle function. 

1. In a mechanism for initiating a timed cycle function, the mechanism including a frame, a cycle control mechanism, a control shaft carried by the frame for initiating a timer-controlled cycle function upon being axially displaced, a shiftable slide plate carried by the frame for initiating the cycle function, and means for axially resetting the control shaft at the end of the cycle function, a protection device comprising, in combination: a collar carried by the control shaft, a retractable blocking member carried by the frame and having a blocking portion for preventing inward displacement of the control shaft when said member is in a blocking position and not retracted, the blocking member being normally in the blocking position, and cam means carried by the blocking member engageable with the slide plate for retracting the blocking member from the blocking position to a removed position upon cycle-initiating movement of the slide plate.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said cam means includes an arm carried by the blocking member and extending toward the slide plate, said arm having a cam surface engageable with the advancing end of the slide plate for retracting the blocking member from the blocking position to a removed position.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the blocking member and cam means are incorporated in a unitary sheet metal member, said member having a base portion, a blocking portion for engaging the control shaft collar, an angled arm extending toward the advancing end of the slide plate for engagement therewith, and pivot means for pivotably fastening the base portion of said unitary sheet metal member to the frame.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the axis of rotation of said blocking member about said pivot means is parallel to the axis of control shaft displacement when initiating the cycle function. 